Interesting Information about the school:

1) Chung Hwa Girls’ School was founded at a time when education of girls was unheard of.

Inspired by Dr Sun Yat Sen’s vision of creating a society where everyone is empowered to

make decisions for themselves, progressive individuals like Mr Tay Peng Teng, Mr Puan Yeow

Pong and other members from the Chinese community, the first Chinese medium girls’ school

was created at Mohamed Sultan Road in 1911. It became a turning point for girls’ education

in Singapore. Today, the nation has indeed come far in its meritocratic belief that

opportunities for education is open to all regardless of background.

2) There were no boys in Zhonghua until 1984. To ensure the school’s continuity, Zhonghua

welcomed boys for the first time to boost enrolment.

Chung Hwa Girls’ School

First intake of boys and the school was renamed Chung Hwa High School (1984)

3) Chung Hwa Girls’ School started teacher training courses in the mid-1930s to cater to the

needs of the growing enrolment in the school. The courses were only terminated in the 1950s

when Singapore started the Teachers’ Training College. Today, the school continues to

emphasise teachers’ professional development so that teachers are equipped to educate

students to be future-ready.

4) The school has also grown and adapted alongside the nation. During the post-war nation

building years, there was demand for higher education. The school expanded to incorporate

a middle school. Additionally, there was also a 3-year high school programme which was later

replaced by a 2-year Pre-University system. In 1984, the school adopted English as its medium

of instruction. The school’s endeavours to stay relevant to the community and the nation have

also been recognised by noteworthy individuals.

- In 1968, the then Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew commended the Chung Hwa girls for their

tenacity, commitment and team spirit in the National Day Parade.

- In 1969, Mr Ong Pang Boon, then Education Minister, graced the opening of an additional

block for the school at the Bartley Road campus.

- In 2003, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, then Acting Minister for Education visited the

school’s current premise.

- In 2011, our current Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong graced Zhonghua’s Secondary

School’s 100th Year anniversary as Guest-of-Honour and praised the school for its ability to

evolve over time and stay relevant for the community and the nation.

Graduating Cadet Teachers (1948)

5) In the history of Zhonghua, the school has moved its premises a total of 5 times! Starting from

Mohamed Sultan Road, the school moved to a bigger premise at Tank Road. In 1925, the

school moved to an even bigger premise at 57 Niven Road. In 1951, the secondary classes

shifted to the campus at Bartley Road. In 1987, the school relocated to Serangoon Avenue 4

and finally moved to its current premise at Serangoon Avenue 3, in 1999. Zhonghua organised

walkathons to commemorate its relocation in recent times!

Minister Ong Pang Boon delivering his

speech at the opening of an extension

block of the school. (1969)

Visit by then Acting Minister for Education,

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam. (2003)

Moving to Serangoon Avenue 4 (1986) Moving to current premise Serangoon

Avenue 3 (1999)

6) Mr Royston Tan, an award-winning Singaporean film-maker who is hailed as one of the most

promising talents in the local film-making industry is a Zhonghua alumnus! Mr Tan spent his

formative years as a student in the Normal Academic Stream in Zhonghua Secondary School.

Upon graduation, he took video production classes and developed a strong interest in film-

making. He set up his own film production company, 10twentyeight, in 2008.

On 4 January 2014, Minister for Education, Mr Heng Swee Keat, cited renowned local film-

maker Royston Tan as an example of what a "broad" education can do. He shared on his

Facebook page an anecdote about how Mr Tan picked up filmmaking while he was a student

at Zhonghua Secondary School, after making a video for his Art O-Level examination. He

praised Mr Tan's principal, Mrs Ng-Gan Lay Choo, for embodying the "breadth" in education

by recognising and embracing Mr Tan's talent in an unconventional area.

Mr Heng wrote, “(She) personally coached him and even went to school on the weekends to

teach him film editing. That's how his love for film got sparked. He went on to study Visual

Communications at Temasek Polytechnic, and to make thought-provoking works that have

made a connection with many people."

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/local-film-maker-royston-tan-an-example-

of-broad-education-heng-swee-keat

Royston’s introduction to his 2015 film 3688 to the Secondary 3 Zhonghua

Cohort. He came attired in the Zhonghua Uniform!

Royston Tan with alumni from Chung Hwa Girls’ School and

Zhonghua School Leaders. (2015)

7) A creative counterpart and close friend of Mr Royston Tan, founder and creative director of

creative agency &Larry, Mr Larry Peh is also a Zhonghua alumnus! They met during their

formative years at Zhonghua Secondary School, where Larry dreamed of being a graphic

designer and Royston, a movie director.

The duo have collaborated on many projects including Mr Larry Peh designing the poster of

Mr Tan’s 2005 film 4:30. He also the art direction for Mr Tan's 881 film in 2007. In 2014, Mr

Larry Peh won the President’s award for design. In 2015, Mr Larry Peh was invited to Zhonghua

Secondary School to be part of Zhonghua’s ‘Distinguished Speakers Series’ to share his journey

in the creative industry with students.

Source:

1) https://sg.asiatatler.com/style/every-step-of-the-way-creative-poster-boys

2) https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/daring-dreamer

Royston Tan’s personal sharing about working in the creative industry

with the Secondary 3 cohort. (2015)

Mr Larry Peh sharing his experience in the creative industry with

Zhonghua students during the school assembly (2015)

Mr Larry Peh with Zhonghua Art teachers & students (2015)